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Sitting too long is bad for you. If there’s one thing to remember about work health and office ergonomics, it’s that you need to get up and stand now and then for health of mind and body. Then again, standing all day isn’t much of a picnic either. One solution for the desktop jockey or laptop warrior? Get a standing desk converter.
Standing desk converters do exactly what the name implies: They sit on a standard fixed-top desk and let you alternate between sitting and standing whenever you want. With wide, multi-tiered work surfaces and smooth mechanics, a standing desk converter provides more flexibility than either a fixed sitting desk or fixed standing desk, and is less of a commitment than an expensive convertible standing desk.
There’s a lot of options for standing desk converters available, ranging from simple folding risers to fully automatic motorized models. We think the best standing desk converter for most people is the FlexiSpot Standing Desk Converters M37, thanks to its smooth, reliable operation, sturdy design and affordable price.
Height Adjustability Range: 4.7” to 19.6” | Surface Area Dimensions: 36” L x 24.9” W | Weight Capacity: 33 lb | Top Material: Wood | Bottom Material: Metal
Our editors’ top pick for the best standing desk converter overall is the FlexiSpot Standing Desk Converter M37. We like this model thanks to its smooth operation, large usable area, sturdy build and attractive pricing.
The FlexiSpot M37 is a two-tiered standing desk converter that can go from 4.7 inches above the desk surface all the way to 19.6 inches at maximum height. Its roomy upper tier is 36 inches long and almost 17 inches deep, offering just over 4 square feet of surface area. That’s enough for two 24-inch monitors.
The lower tier is 34.6 inches wide and 12.2 inches deep, providing ample space for a keyboard and mouse as well as notes or a coffee mug. It also can support a laptop with its display open thanks to the cutout in the upper tier.
The FlexiSpot standing desk converter weighs 25.5 pounds and can support more than 33 pounds in its upper tier and over 6 pounds in its lower tier. A convenient right-front lever raises or lowers the tiers and keeps them at the desired height.
Best Bang for the Buck
Height Adjustability Range: 4.3” to 6.7” | Surface Area Dimensions: 11.4” L x 9” W | Weight Capacity: 33 lb | Top Material: Metal | Bottom Material: Metal
If you’re a laptop user or just have a simple, single-monitor setup, you can save some money by picking an adjustable monitor riser like the BoYata Monitor Stand. You won’t have the same benefits as a true standing desk converter, but you’ll have the flexibility to adjust the height of your main display if you need it.
The BoYata monitor stand is a manually adjustable all-metal pedestal riser that can go from a desk-appropriate 4.3 inches to 6.7 inches in height. Its single platform offers about 100 square inches of area, sufficient for a monitor, laptop or all-in-one computer. It uses a knob-controlled clamping mechanism to change and set heights and has an impressive 33-pound load capacity.
As a monitor riser, the BoYata isn’t a true standing desk converter. It doesn’t have space for your entire workstation or a separate keyboard and mouse. It also doesn’t adjust smoothly or ascend to a true standing height. But it’s a low-cost option for anyone who wants to occasionally stand at their desk and change their point of view.
Best Variety of Sizes and Finishes
Height Adjustability Range: 6” to 17” | Surface Area Dimensions: 36” L x 22” W | Weight Capacity: 33 lb | Top Material: Wood | Bottom Material: Alloy steel
Vivo is a well-known brand of office furniture and equipment. Its VIVO Adjustable Stand-Up Desk Converter is an excellent option with a variety of sizes and finishes to suit many different types of desks and work environments.
The Vivo V-Series converter is available in four different widths, from 32 to 48 inches, and six different colors and finishes. Its base totals 26 inches in depth, suitable for most standard desks, while its top tier stretches the full length of each of its four available widths. It uses pneumatic springs to raise and lower from six to 17 inches above the desk surface and is easily controlled by a pair of levers under the top tier.
The Vivo standing desk converter comes mostly assembled. Its keyboard tier is fully removable if needed, and it has a mobile device slot for tablets or smartphones. With the options of light or dark wood, vintage brown, and black and white, it’s a great choice for matching a desk or office design.
Best for Dual Monitors
Height Adjustability Range: 4.5” to 17.5” | Surface Area Dimensions: 36” L x 29.75” W | Weight Capacity: 35 lb | Top Material: Laminate | Bottom Material: Steel
When it comes to standing desks and ergonomic office equipment, Vari is one of the top names, so the VariDesk Pro Plus 36 is an easy choice for those in the market for a standing desk converter. Its name-brand background makes it pricey, but its quality and size make it worthwhile.
The VariDesk Pro Plus 36 sports two tiers of workspace with a lower tier that’s more than 14 inches deep, which can easily fit not only a keyboard and mouse but also accessories and papers. The upper tier supports two monitors side by side with a cutout for an open laptop display in front. The VariDesk rises up to 17.5 inches in height, aided by spring-assisted rowing mechanisms activated by a pair of handles in front.
The VariDesk Pro Plus has 11 set height increments and also comes out a few inches for better ergonomics while standing. It’s made of thick laminate and foam-wrapped steel for comfort and smooth operation. It comes fully assembled with niceties like cord wraps and coasters.
Height Adjustability Range: 1” to 15.7” | Surface Area Dimensions: 26.8” L x 13.4” W | Weight Capacity: 11 lb | Top Material: Steel | Bottom Material: Steel
Don’t want to commit to a full-size standing desk converter? The Uplift Desk E3 could be for you. This compact standing desk converter folds up thin for transport or storage but opens up to optimal standing height when needed.
The Uplift Desk E3 is a single-tier standing desk converter with a maximum load capacity of 11 pounds, enough for a monitor and keyboard station and more than plenty for a laptop. It rises with the aid of an internal gas spring to go up from as low as 1 inch, barely noticeable above the desk surface, to more than 15 inches at full height. Its single surface offers almost 400 square inches, or more than 2.6 feet, of surface area.
As a single-tier model, the Uplift Desk E3 is ideal for laptops and minimal, single-screen work setups. It weighs just over 12 pounds, making it portable but not negligible, and its opening motion is not as smooth as full-sized models. But it’s an excellent option for work-at-home or commuting.
We conducted multiple hours of research on standing desk converters for this article, informing ourselves on the effects of excessive sitting and standing on the human body as well as familiarizing ourselves with workplace ergonomics. We used this knowledge to survey the market for standing desk converters, evaluating them on build quality, lift type, weight capacity, tier number and configuration and other ease-of-use factors. We narrowed down our recommendations to models we thought would offer a wide selection of options for consumers, ranking them according to features, specifications and price.
Sitting for long periods is now widely recognized as being bad for health, with negative effects on blood sugar, metabolism, cardiac health and even mental well-being. We’re encouraged to stand anywhere from five to 30 minutes per hour to break up long sitting sessions. Standing desks became popular as an alternative work option that’s healthier on our bodies.
Standing for long periods, however, also has ill effects. Standing for extended periods can lead to back ache, joint pain, foot pain and other issues. Anyone who’s had to work standing up for hourslong shifts knows how tired and sore you can get standing up all the time.
Being able to switch positions — standing for a while, then sitting for a bit, then standing again — adds movement and change, which our bodies enjoy. Convertible sitting/standing desks were invented to give desk workers the option to sit or stand as they wanted, and change whenever they pleased. Standing desk converters that easily switch from a sitting to standing configuration allow anyone with a sturdy work surface to enjoy the benefits of both sitting and standing from time to time.
Standing desk converters offer several benefits over regular desks. They also have some benefits over standing desks.
While standing desk converters have benefits, they also have a couple of drawbacks.
There are mainly two ways to adjust the height of a standing desk converter: manually, or with a motor.
Since you’ll be adding a standing desk converter to your existing desk, it’s important to make sure they have a strong, stable interface with the main desk surface.
It’s important to pick a standing desk converter that is strong enough to hold not only your current setup, but any foreseeable future equipment as well.
A standard office desk measures around 40 inches wide and 30 inches deep. Standing desk converters are generally designed not to exceed those dimensions, with many models averaging 25 to 28 inches deep and 36 inches wide. Depending on their features, some parts of the desk converter may extend wider or deeper during use.
Standing desk converters can be divided into single-tier and multi-tiered models.
When shopping for a standing desk converter, it helps to be familiar with certain principles of office ergonomics, such as ideal desk height, ideal display height, neutral posture and neutral reach.
When it comes to installing and setting up a standing desk converter, you often get what you pay for.
A. A standing desk converter can range in price from around $50 for a budget-priced online dupe to over $600 for a fully-assembled motorized model from a respectable brand. A good quality basic one-tier riser can be found between $75 and $150, while many manual, multitier options can be found between $150 and $250.
A. There are several suggestions as to how much time to spend standing at work rather than sitting, but an easy rule is a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio: spend half an hour standing and half an hour sitting, or 15 minutes standing to 45 minutes sitting. Another strategy is the so-called 20-8-2 formula: sit for 20 minutes, stand for 8 minutes, walk or stretch for 2 minutes. The key is to alternate positions regularly without wearing yourself out.
Jmar Gambol is a writer for BestReviews. He has written over a hundred articles and product guides since 2021, including several on office ergonomics. He sits too much.
